MY HS Principle Plagiarizes!!!

[Spectacle]

I saw the article on this and other follow up articles.
I think the point is how is the school district there supposed to uphold its regulations and principles for its students. The student could say "my principal plagiarizes, why are you punishing me for this?" It is hypocrisy for a school system that seems to pledge academic integrity to let a high standing official not be condoned. I assume there is very harsh punishments for students who plagiarize. And it sounded like the superintendent was OK with the apology, and wanted the whole thing to blow over. No, sorry, it's not that easy. The students, the parents, and the whole community I assume would lose trust in the public education process. I know I would.

Plagiarizing is a form of cheating. What kind of message is that sending to the students? And don't compensate with "oh but everyone cheats in the real world" because this is the educational process. It's one of the prime places kids learn their morals and values; through schooling.

The article said he apologized and made a mistake. Yeah, you did, a pretty huge one that threatens the integrity of the whole school district in your area, so let's hurry up and fire your ass because of it.

A Chicago Tribune Online Blog by Eric Zorn. http://blogs.chicagotribune.com/news...?cid=116565692

Plagiarism can't be undone with excuses.

Caudill's rococo narrative of honorable intentions repeatedly gone awry is a novel variation on "I relied on my notes, which I didn't remember were copied verbatim from another source" and "I merely forgot to include attribution." But, like all defenses for literary theft, it aggravates the offense by failing to rise to the level of plausibility.

In this case, Caudill's dubious defense isn't even exculpatory: Even if he had received Nowicki-Plackett's enthusiastic blessing to recycle her speech, he was ethically bound to give her full and clear credit when quoting her.

Not having done so was a serious offense, particularly for a high school principal.

The third lesson of this teachable moment -- that with greater position comes greater accountability -- hangs in the balance.

It may sound harsh, but Jim Caudill has to go.

If he doesn't resign, the superintendent or Board of Education must demote or fire him to underscore the school's commitment to academic integrity.

Anything less -- token discipline, a formal tut-tut -- won't do. Allowing him to remain as principal would send the message that the more powerful you are, the more slack you get when you mess up.

It would turn the teachable moment into a bitter lesson.